The WTO has announced that it has struck a deal with its members around dropping agriculture subsidies. The BBC reports that "The deal, approved by all 147 members, will cut rich countries' farm subsidies in return for developing countries opening markets for manufactured goods."

Good, it's about time. While the poorer countries haven't been blameless in their reluctance to embrace free trade and globalisation, first world countries (read: Europe and the US) have been horrible about living up to their talk about free trade when it comes to agricultural subsides. Great news, if it actually comes to pass.